Lock for paper fasteners



Npv. 6, 1928. v 1,690,230

F. J. KLlNE LOCK FOR PAPER FASTENERS Filed June 17, 1926v 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 anvemtoz Nov. 6, "I928. I 1,690,230

F. J. KLINE LOOK FOR PAPER FASTENERS Filed June 17, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 anvewcoz 351 abtomeq Patented Nov. 6, 192 8 PATENT OFFICE.

FRED J. KLINE, OF LONG ISLAND CITY, NEW YORK.

LOCK FOR PAPER FASTENERS,

Application filed June 17,

My present invention relates to an improved form of cheap and simple locking device for use with the well known two .pronged metal fasteners commonly used for fastening '5 papers together.

\Vhere pronged fasteners made of soft metal are used to fasten a considerablenumber of sheets by being thrust through a perfora-tion in the bundle and bent apart flat Hi against the sheets, the bundle so fastened is often handled in a manner to bring a consid erable strain or weightat the fiexures'of the prongs. Inasmuch as these pronged fasteners have to be made of very soft metal to per- I mit of easy and frequent bending without breaking, this strain often acts to bend the prongs upward and thus to loosen the whole bundle. i 7

My present invention overcomes this dithculty by providing a simple form of locking device which canbe slipped over the prongs of the fastener when this latter is inserted, and can be instantly and easily brought into position to secure the prongs tightly in the fastening position. This is accomplished by locking the soft metal prongs at points quite close to the perforationin the papers through which the prongs pass, thereby securing a firm purchase andentire security against pulling the bundle loose. V I

' The preferred mode of operating my improved locking device involves very little bending of the same and it can thereforebe made stifi enough to be relied upon to resist any pull to be expected in use. p

Atthe same time it is one of the advantages of my invention that the lock can be removed just as easily and quickl as it is applied. My locking device takesupa minimum of space and presents no parts which can catch the fingers or become broken off. 7

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings,

wherein Figure 1 is a face view of a blank as stamped out to form one of my improved locks, Figure2 is a similar View of the completed lock after final bending, Figure 3 is a cross sectional view on the line 33 in Figure 2, Figure 4 is an edge View of the same showing the preferred dished form, Figure 5 is a plan view of a fastener in place on a bundle of papers, showing the lock in open position, Figure 6 is a view in section through the paper bundle, showing the fastener and lock in edge view with the lock ready to be closed down on the fastener prongs, Figure 7 1926. Serial No. 116.540.

is a plan view of the fastener and lock in fully,

closed position on a bundle of papers, and Figure 8 is a partial cross sectional view taken on the line 88 in Figure 7.

In forming my improved locks I first stamp out flat blanks of the general fornishown'in Figure 1, from sheets of thin tinned sheet steel or other appropriate material. The device so formed comprises a central body 10 having a central perforation 11 adapted to be slipped over a pair of fastener prongs and to permit the turning of the device upon said prongs. This central body has two similar andsymmetrically arranged extensions 12 and 13', extending in oppositedirections as indicated bythe arrows in Figure 1, and separated from the central body by narrow spaces 14, 1,5, for accon'unodation of the fastener prongs as hereinafter described.

The blanks so formedare finished, either' in thesame operation as the stamping or in a separateoperatiomby bending the extensions so as to be concave underneath, as at 16. in Figure 3. which is toaccommodate a prong of the fastener on each side see Figure 8). The dotted lines in Figure 1 show the limits of the beaks preferably formed at the open end of each extension 12, 13, whereby the lock is prevented from accidental turning when closed, and whereby accidental catching of the extensions is also prevented.

IVhile not entirely essential to broad invention, I prefer to manufacture these locks in a form indicated more or less exactly in Figure 4. That is to say, I prefer to give each lock a [iii longitudinalbend or dishing,

making it concave upward, so that,- when applied to the fastener prongs, it will be at once ready to be. swung into fastening position,

and by its very form, will suggest to the user how it should be applied and used.

The modeof use of myinvention is made clear in Figures 5 to 8 inclusive.

A bundle of papers is shown, in section in Figures 6 and 8 and in plan in Figures 5 and 7, at 17. These are perforated in the usual manner, and the prongs of a fastener 18 are thrust through the perforation, as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 6. The, prongs 18' are then passed through the opening 11 ofmy improved lock, with the longer dimension of the lock at right angles to the directionof bending ofthe prongs.

The lock is brought down close against the paper in the position stated, and the prongs 18 are then'bent down in the usual manner.

All

Figure shows the position of the various parts atv this stage. The lock is then rotatet around the prongs in the direction of the arrows in Figure 5, which brings them into the position SllOWD in Figure (3, with the extensions 1:2 and 13 over the prongs 1S.

lVith the parts in this position pressure is applied by the lingers to the extensions 12 and 13, preferably bending the papers 1. and prongs 18 at the same time, and these extensions are thus brought flat down upon the prongs in their closed position, as shown in Figures 7 and 8. The prongs 18 are confined under the concaves 16 of the extensions 12 and 135 as shown in Figure 8, and are thereby securely locked in place.

As clearly shown in Figure 7, the stitl extensions 12, 13, are firmly pressed down upon the flattened prongs 18, close to thz-ir tlexure, and any tendency to bend these prongs outward to loose the papers is firmly resisted.

If it be desired to loosen or separate the papers at any time, they can be easily bent, together with the prongs 18 and the extensions 12, 13, to reproduce the dished condition of the locl; shown in Figure 4, and then refiexed together with the prongs 18, so as to free these last entirely from the lock. This latter can then be revolved into the position shown in Figure 5, and the pron gs can be straightenfid to permit removal ot' the loci; and separation of the papers.

The security all'orded by the use of my improved lock makes it possible in many case; to fasten bundles of papers with adequate security with a single fastener.

The principle of my invent-ion is capable of embodiment in forms ditl'ering materially from that herein shown, and I do not limit myself to the details herein shown and described.

\Vhat. I claim is 1. In a locking device for sheet; material, a pronged paper fastener adapted to be inserted through said sheet mate-rial, a body adapted to revolve freely around the fastener when strung thereon, and means on said body adapted to be brought into or out of locking engagement; with the fastener as said body is turned around the fastener in one direction or the other.

2. A locking plate for pron ed paper fasteners adapted to be revolved thereon and comprising dished contining means adapted to he flattened down on the fastener prongs.

3. .1 locking plate tor pronged paper 't'astuners comprising a revolvahle body having a central aperture and a notch on each side of said aperture, and oppositely directed extensions located at the side 0 i said notches remote from the central aperture and adapted to lie over and confine the prongs of the l'astei'ler.

t. In a locking device for sheet: material, a pronged paper fastener adapted to he inserted through said sheet material, a plate of bendable material adapted to be strung over the prongs and revolve thereon and provided with confining means for said prongs.

In a locking device {or sheet material, a pronged paper fastener adapted to be passed through the paper and have the prongs thereof bent doivmvardly, a central substantially tlat body having two locking extensions bent. slightly upwardly from said body to engage one of the downwardly bent prongs of the fastener when the entire device is revolved on the tast-rner.

(3. A locking device For pronged paper fastenors, comprising a plate having a central aperture and a notch located on each ide of sa d aperture, and oppositely directed extensions at each end of the plate and on the side of said notches remote from the aperture.

7. A locking device for pronged paper lasteners, comprising a plate having a central aperture and a notch located on each side of said aperture, and oppositely directed extcir sions at the ends of the plate located on the side of said notch remote from the central aperture and raised above said plate.

In testimoirx whereof I have hereto atlixcd my signature on this 11th day of June, 1920.

FRED J. KLINE. 

